The Piggott senior Little League team will be traveling to Texas for the regional tournament next week, after they claimed the state title Monday night. Coaches and team members are, from left: Front-Hayden McMillon, Jake Poe, Ray Taylor, Trent Edwards and Alek Samples. Back--Coach Billy Joe Seal, Kyle Wright, Colby Lovelace, Tyler Grubb, Tanner Murray, Malcolm Wheetley and Coach Mike Taylor. Not pictured was Clinton Haley of Rector. (photo provided) [Click to enlarge]

Northeast Arkansas will once-again this year be represented in the regional senior Little League tournament, after the local team claimed the state title Monday night at Blytheville.

The squad, which is made up of players from Piggott, Rector, Corning and Marmaduke, advanced by beating out the host Blytheville team in a best of three series. In the first game of the series Tyler Grubb got the win as the local team took the contest 9-5. In the second game of the series the Piggott team came back from a 17-8 deficit to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning only to lose in the home half of that frame by a final of 18-17. Monday night the squad posted a decisive 8-2 win to advance to the regionals in Seguin, Tex. July 31- Aug. 6. According to coach Billy Joe Seal their first game in that bracket will be played at 1 p.m. next Friday, Aug. 1 against New Mexico.

Members of the team include, Kyle Wright, Colby Lovelace, Tyler Grubb, Tanner Murray, Hayden McMillon, Jake Poe, Trent Edwards and Alek Samples from the Piggott area; Clinton Haley from Rector, Malcolm Wheetley from Corning and Ray Taylor from Marmaduke. The squad is coached by Seal, who took many of these same players to the regionals last year in Colorado when they were a junior Little League team, and Mike Taylor of Marmaduke.

Seal also noted that the team will be raising funds to pay for their trip to Texas in the coming week, and that any and all donations would be welcome. The players are scheduled to man a roadblock at the four-way-stop in Piggott Friday and Saturday and are also planning to hold a Boston butt sale. An account has been set-up at Piggott State Bank for those willing to help the team, and all donations are appreciated. Those interested in helping may call Seal at 870 324-0681.